In the Genesis account of Noah’s Ark, Noah was instructed to build it from gopher wood.
Genesis 6:14 gives the construction command and describes the Ark as a large vessel sealed with pitch, both inside and outside. The Hebrew phrase translated “gopher wood” appears only here in the Bible, so the precise tree or timber species is unknown. “Gopher” may be a traditional transliteration rather than the common name of an identified modern tree.
This uncertainty has produced several proposals, including cypress, cedar, and resinous wood, but none is established as the definitive meaning. Some English translations retain “gopher wood,” while others use wording such as “wood of cypress” or “resinous wood.” Those alternatives reflect translation theories, not a settled archaeological identification.
The story then specifies the Ark’s compartments, covering, and dimensions. The material is therefore a named biblical term, while its botanical identity remains uncertain. This fact is often confused with later artistic depictions that choose a particular timber species.